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DNA Testing and Transfers – What’s Your Strategy?

I’m providing a quick update as to which vendors support file transfers from which other vendors in a handy matrix.

Come join in the fun!

Testing and Transfer Strategy

Using the following chart, you can easily plan a testing and transfer strategy.

Click on image to enlarge.

Caveats and footnotes as follows:

1. After May 2016, the Ancestry test is only partly compatible, meaning you receive your closest matches (about 20-25% of the total) but won’t receive distant matches due to chip incompatibility. However, beginning in April 2019, when Family Tree DNA implemented the Illumina GSA chip, Ancestry files are receiving all matches.

2. The 23andMe December 2010 (V3) version is fully compatible. December 2013-August 2017 (V4) and August 2017 (V5) tests are partly compatible meaning you receive your closest matches (about 20-25% of the total) but won’t receive distant matches due to chip incompatibility. However, beginning in April 2019, when Family Tree DNA implemented the Illumina GSA chip, 23andMe V4 and V5 files are receiving all matches.

3. GedMatch has been working to resolve autosomal matching issues between vendor’s chips. Patience is a key word.

4. LivingDNA does not yet have full blown matching (I have one match), which has been in the testing phase for months, and has recently changed chip vendors.

5. Customer must extract the file using a file utility before it can be uploaded. LivingDNA indicates that they are working on a simpler solution.

LivingDNA – Transfers will receive matching when that feature becomes fully implemented, but will not receive ethnicity, Y or mtDNA haplogroups. For those features, you must purchase their test. For those seeking matches, many people in the UK test at LivingDNA and may not test elsewhere. The upload process is not intuitive and I could not find a link or information on their main page, but by clicking here, you can upload your file after you create a LivingDNA account.

Transfer Costs

Autosomal transfers and matching are free at the vendors who accept transfers, but payment for advanced tools is required.

Please note that as vendors change testing chips and file formats, other vendors who accept transfers will need time to adapt. I know it’s frustrating sometimes, but it’s a sign that technology is moving forward. The good news is that after the wait, if there is one, you’ll have a brand new group of genealogy matches – many holding clues for you to decipher.

I’m in all of the databases, so see you there.

Disclosure

I receive a small contribution when you click on the link to one of the vendors in my articles. This does NOT increase the price you pay, but helps me to keep the lights on and this informational blog free for everyone. Please click on the links in the articles or to the vendors below if you are purchasing products or DNA testing.

24 thoughts on “DNA Testing and Transfers – What’s Your Strategy?”

My parents and I tested with AncestryDNA first as it is the largest database out there. That and like you said they don’t allow uploads. I ended up following friends’ advice to “cast a wide net” by uploading to GEDmatch, Myheritage, LivingDNA, FTDNA and 23andme. 23andme was only on DNA day and I couldn’t see matches. I kind of regret that one. It’s a shame because I know of two cousins on there and I can’t see how they match. They also can’t see me. I know they are there as they told me via e-mail or in person. So, it seemed really pointless to upload there. For me anyway. I have yet to test at 23andme. I don’t know if I will.

What is your take on DNAland? I keep hearing about it. I haven’t uploaded anything there. I’m kind of hesitant as I covered pretty much all the bases.

Thank you for this article! I am interested in knowing what can be done with the CSV file from national genographic in terms of gleaning more information from it if possible. I also wondered if you could suggest any resources for learning more about mtDNA. Thanks so much!

Very timely article. I manage a number of DNA samples on Ancestry and am in the process of transferring to Family Tree DNA . How do I tell if the tests I have are pre or post 2013 ? I keep several kits on hand and guess i will need to start dating them.

Sometimes if you open the file in a text format it will say in the first couple rows if it’s V1 or V2. Before you open it, save it to another file name because I think they require an unopened file to upload.

So if I uploaded my Ancestry file to LivingDNA back when they were asking for people with a lot of German ancestors. I’m thinking it was about a year ago that I uploaded it. But the Ancestry test was early in 2017, then it would have been the wrong chip? I don’t have any matches, but then lots of people don’t. They haven’t indicated that anything was wrong. Would I be better off to upload my 23andMe results from about a year ago? Thanks

Yes, I did opt in. I keep checking ever so often. My husband’s was uploaded there too. He also has no matches. He’s gotten the ethnicity break down, which I didn’t. His was uploaded when FindMyPast was first involved. I had hoped his Ireland break down would be more than it was. Trying to find where in Ireland his paternal 3rd great grandfather was born. (Y-DNA didn’t help on that.) He had lots of break down in England but we know most of that on his mother’s side. Thanks!

I didn’t mention Geni or Wikitree because they aren’t comparing for matches. You don’t upload your entire DNA file, only enter results of haplogroups and indicate that you’ve tested. That’s different. I do use both sides to discover who has tested from the lines I’m interested in though.

In your first paragraph in the email sent April 9, 2019 the email states that “After May 2016, the Ancestry test is only partly compatible, meaning you receive your closet matches . . .”. What are closet matches? I have never seen this term used with respect to genealogy except possibly for those folks who want to, or have come out of the closet.

It appears that the new transfers are more compatible – I suspect with the imputation required for their new GSA chip. I have not been able to compare an Ancestry test against a new one at FTDNA to see if they are fully compatible but based on the distance of Ancestry matches, it looks promising.